Household appliance comprising a locking device

Abstract

The invention relates to a domestic appliance having a device for locking a movable closing element, especially a door, cover, flap, or similar on a household appliance, particularly a dishwasher. The locking device includes a closing hook or closing pin disposed on the housing of the household appliance that engages with an engaging section in the closing element during locking and can be made to disengage therefrom during unlocking. The engaging section is formed by a cavity in the closing element.

1. A domestic appliance comprising:
 a.) a container defining a top and a treatment compartment for receiving therein an item to be handled by the domestic appliance, the treatment compartment especially being in the form of a treatment compartment of a dishwasher; 
 b.) means forming an access opening through which access can be had to an item received by the treatment compartment; 
 c.) an access blocking element, the access blocking element having a closure engagement section, the closure engagement section having a first section extending downwardly toward its lowest point and a second section opposite the first section extending downwardly toward its lowest point, and wherein at least one of the first section and the second section adjoins rounded sections in the peripheral direction within the closure engagement section; and 
 d.) a closing member selectively engageable with, and disengageable from, the closure engagement section of the access blocking element, the closing member being engageable with the closure engagement section of the access blocking element in connection with a movement of the access blocking element into a closing position in which the access blocking element, operating especially as a door, a cover, a flap, or similar access opening access blocking element, closes off the access opening of the treatment compartment, and the closing member being disengageable from the closure engagement section of the access blocking element to permit a movement of the access blocking element into an opening position in which the access blocking element permits access via the access opening into the treatment compartment, and the closure engagement section of the access blocking element being molded into the access blocking element, the closing member being mounted to the top of the container at a position in general vertical alignment with the closure engagement section when the access blocking element is in the closing position. 
 
     
     
       2. The domestic appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the closure engagement section is formed by a cavity in the access blocking element. 
     
     
       3. The domestic appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the closure engagement section is disposed on a side of the access blocking element, in particular, a side of a door. 
     
     
       4. The domestic appliance as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the closure engagement section is disposed on an upper side of the access blocking element. 
     
     
       5. The domestic appliance as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the closure engagement section is disposed on a side opposite an axis of rotation of the access blocking element. 
     
     
       6. The domestic appliance as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the closure engagement section is disposed in the side opposite the axis of rotation in a center of the longitudinal extension of the side. 
     
     
       7. The domestic appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the access blocking element is a selected one of a hinged door and a displaceable door, in particular an inner door, for closing the treatment compartment. 
     
     
       8. The domestic appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the closing member is disposed in a top of a housing of the domestic appliance. 
     
     
       9. The domestic appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the closing member interacts with the closure engagement section of the access blocking element in such that, during locking, the closing member moves into the closure engagement section of the access blocking element in an essentially perpendicular manner to an opening plane. 
     
     
       10. The domestic appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the closure engagement section of the access blocking element has a shaped edge when viewed from above. 
     
     
       11. The domestic appliance as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the edge has at least one of rounded corners and rounded sides. 
     
     
       12. The domestic appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the closure engagement section of the access blocking element tapers toward its lowest point. 
     
     
       13. The domestic appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the first section extends downward steeply toward its lowest point and the second section extends downward less steeply than the first section toward its lowest point. 
     
     
       14. The domestic appliance as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein, when the access blocking element is in the locked state, the first section forms a stop for the closing member to prevent opening of the access blocking element. 
     
     
       15. The domestic appliance as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the first section runs at an angle between 80 and 90 degrees, in particular at an angle of essentially 85 degrees, to an opening plane of the closure engagement section of the access blocking element. 
     
     
       16. The domestic appliance as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein the second section runs at an angle of 45 degrees or less, preferably at an angle between 10 and 30 degrees and particularly preferably at an angle of essentially 20 degrees to an opening plane of the closure engagement section of the access blocking element. 
     
     
       17. The domestic appliance as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first section and the second section is trapezoidal in shape. 
     
     
       18. The domestic appliance as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the closure engagement section of the access blocking element, is formed in a unitary manner with an inner surface of a door. 
     
     
       19. The domestic appliance as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the closure engagement section includes a chamfered surface at a junction thereof with an inner surface of the access blocking element.